LEGION: Ashley strikes again for Hamilton Post 31

HAMILTON — Fresh off an MVP performance in the Hall of Fame Classic in Binghamton, N.Y., Eddie Ashley could have been a little tired as the Hamilton American Legion Post 31 baseball team played its eighth game in six days yesterday.

Instead, Ashley and his Post 31 teammates did not let less sleep bother them as they continued to roll with a 12-0 win over North Hamilton in five innings at Trenton Catholic Academy for Hamilton manager Rick Freeman’s 700th win.

“Not at all,” Ashley said when asked if he and his teammates were exhausted. “We got back late (Sunday) night, so a lot of us slept in today. We’ve still got a game (Tuesday), then we’ll get a day off.”

The way things have been going for the 17-year-old left fielder, he does not want to step off the baseball field.

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In the Hall of Fame Classic, Ashley hit .500 with four doubles and 10 runs batted in, receiving a Most Valuable player plaque as well as a $500 scholarship. He picked up where he left off yesterday, going 2-for-2, reaching base all four times he came up, scoring three times, stealing a base and driving in one run.

“It’s been great,” Ashley said of his rise to the No. 2 spot in Post 31’s batting order, putting him between leadoff hitter Brock Podgurski and No. 3 batter James Locklear. “Brock’s a good leadoff batter, and Lock’s been hitting just as well in the No. 3 hole.”

As a result, Ashley has been getting a lot of good pitches to hit.

“I was in a slump, but since the move, I’ve gotten back on track,” Ashley said. “So has the team. Since our trip, the chemistry is there now.”

Back in Mercer County American Legion League play yesterday, Post 31 (17-7 overall, 11-6 league) only managed eight hits, but made the most of those and four North Hamilton errors to end the game early.

North Hamilton (6-11) was not as fortunate against Hamilton pitcher Craig Buczynski. The 17-year-old right-hander from Steinert High did not allow a hit until Taylor Guest singled with one out in the bottom of the fifth.

Yet, North Hamilton had chances to score as two players reached base on errors and three more walked. Its best opportunity came in the bottom of the first when it loaded the bases with two outs. A run there would have made the game interesting since Post 31 only had a 2-0 lead.

When Ashley returned to the plate in the second inning, his RBI single started a five-run eruption. Locklear followed with a sacrifice fly. P.J. Wiegartner singled in two more and Casey Plunkett doubled in another to spark the visitors to their ninth win in their last 10 games.